Form for washing and drying gloves



M y 1931. c. D. THOMA FORM FOR WASHING AND DRYING GLOVE S Filed June 19. 1929 Patented May 19, 1931 i UNITEDSTATES y I COR AI LIEDQTHOMA,LOFNEW:YORK, p 1

r0311: rozaw'Asn me J nn twine etovnsf "Applicationfi lfed June 19, 1929.1 Serial n. 372,100;

, ,;This invention relates to QI v ELVO-ld the the like, and has pa'rticular reference/to .deg v f s I Y x"; i-g-i; p

' Another Tob e'ct of the Invention 1s to fur- Vices for washing drying gloves'orslml lar articles.

5 The device provided-'bythis invention I sists of a simplec'orrectly shaped gloveliorm thatincludes an'improved, separate'thumb piece, on'which' to quicklywash and air-dry ordry cleaniany and all types of washable and drycleaned gloves, and which form may be made of any metahwood, orcompos tion material properly surfaced. v i 1 1 One object of the-inventionjis'to provlde an improved rigid device ofthechar'acter de scribed, that is easily inserted into or removed'ffrom a glove, regardless of the length thereof, and which holds the glove,'-part1cularly at the thumb, neatly,smoothly andreliably in position, and without distortin the 7 lines thereof, or unduly stretching the g ove. *In cleaning a gl0ve,the same is treated in various ways well known in the art, though, for purposes of, illustration only, it may be stated that thelglove is washed. vIn order w vto avoid'distortionof the glove, and-toicause the same tohave the proper shape when dried, it is usually preferred to insert a form thereinto. The form alsopermits a suitably m drying means,as, forexample, a cloth, to

absorb as muchjwater therefrom as possible,

a to reducethe time for drying, before the glove is put awayto be completely air-dried, The shape of the glove form isof great imporwhen the latter has fully dried,"and it may be glove by creatingvarious stresses and ten,- sions on the glove Where aw re form 1s used, these tensions and stresses are not uni form, and act to distort thexglove; Also a" wire form is diflicult to insert into, the glove, and does not permit 1 as efiective preliminary dryingofthe glove with a cloth.

Another obj ect of the inventiomtherefore,

isto provide an improved glove. form to' 1a cilitate the operations aboveydes'cribed, and

toreduce the time fordr'ying; w 1

be worked alongfthe outside of the glovetotance, as it determines the shape of th glov Fig'f7' is an enlargedsectionahdetail of nish a'devi'ce of the nature set forth that in-, 1 cludesimproved means for aerating the glove 56 A further ob 'ect ofi theinvention'is ithe pro vision offal device of the class alluded tfo having an improved removable thumb havingjimproved'coac'tion with thekhand' prope'r B0 of the formto iacilitateinsertion'of the dei vice into the glove, andv behold the :l'atter'in the most desirablejshape and which may used, if desired, to-co-ope'ratewith the hand proper for receiving either. I {left-for} right gloves, on a single device. 7 Other objects and advantagesct-theim vention will become-apparentzas the specific ation proceeds. r

gWiththe aforesaidobjects in view,the

vention consists ii -the novel combinations and arragnements ofparts hereinafter desscribed in their preferred embodiment, pointed out in thersubjoi'nednclainis, and illustrated on the annexeddrawing's, wherein like parts are, designatedby the same refer encecharacters throughout the' several views;

In the drawings e Figure "leis aj-view inside elevationof a device embodying the invention. 7 Fig. 2'is an' edge view of thes'arne, i Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on line '3-3of Fig. 1,; r p 4 is a side View of the thumb, 5,:lS'EL View in side elevation of a mode ified glove form. 7 r

. Fig. 6' is a vertical sectionftakenon line 6 ;6'0f Fig. 1. i

a modified expansion means? i The. advantages of the lnvention aslhere outlinedare bestrealized when all of its" features and instrumentalities; are combined in one and the same structure, 'but,us'eful devices naybe produced embodying less than the whole." I 1 a It-will be obvious to those skilled in the artto which this invention appertains;'that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The-accompanying adapted for use on either side of the same,

so that theform maybe utilized for both right and left hand gloves. Thethumb has a specially formed base, which is somewhat elongated, and the axis of the thumb may make an acute angle with the direction of the hand proper. The said base may have an extension remote from the axis of the thumb an'd lying in said acute angle.

It will be understood that the devicecan be used equally well for articles other than gloves, and generally for articles of a pliable, washable-material, and that these are included'within the scope of theinvention, andreferredto in theterm glove. I Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes a device embodying the invention. The sameincludes a form for gloves, or similar articles, which is made of any suitable material that is sufiiciently inexpensive for the purpose, and yet: possesses ample strength and rigidity'to permitfthe same to be easily inserted into a glovewithout distorting or tearing the glove. This is. important, considering that'gloves, particularly those worn by ladies,.are often. rather delicate. I have found thin sheet metal quite satisfactory for my purpose. r e

The said formcomprises two separate elements 11 and 12, the former including a hand proper 13 andlfour digits 14, andthe latter the'thumb 15. j

The element'll consists of a pair of spaced side members 16, 17 which liein substantial ly parallel planes. 'The side members'referred' to co-operate to provide the said'hand properand the four digits.

Holding the side members 16and17; to; gether, Whether permanently or separably, as may be desired, are fastening-means18 that are located in any suitable position, preferably at the ends of theform-ll. The said fastening means may be movable or rigid in character, as will be readily. understood in the art,"a s by the'use of tongues, screws, or the rivets 19, 20. These rivets or their equivalent, are positioned at: the tipsofthe digits and'a-t the-base of. the form 1'1.v Their heads are preferably countersunk, so that a-smooth surface in the said form is assured. The

rivets may permit a slight degree of relative movement between the members 16, 17

The portion of the form 11 at the digits is thinner than at the lower part or" the form, to conform to the shape of the glove. This gradation in thickness may be accomplished by making the rivets 20 longer than 19. The side members 16, 17 may lie disposed at a uniform small angle, or lie bent slightly at a point intermediate the ends thereof, as, for example, at 21. The said members are maintained in the spaced relation aforesaid by any suitable means;

The thumbhas a base portion 15a elongated in the general direction of the glove form, to reliably supportthe thumb with the axis thereof extending at a uniform acute angle with the glove form; The said base 15 has also an abutment portion 15b IGIIIOtG'ZEIOIII said axis and lying within the acute angle mentioned to support the thumb at said angle.

Extending alongthe edges of the sidemem bers 16, 17 are flanges-22 to preventthe gloves from being; damaged or out. These flanges extend toward. each other, but terminate in spaced relation, both at the hand proper and digits.

The saidfianges alsoserve to strengthen the form and are accordingly made of the requisite Width for this'purpose. To afiord additional: reenforcement. at i the digits, the flanges thereat have projections 23 in spaced relation to the rivets19, which projections abut against each other, when the glove form is in. its narrowest or collapsed condition. Thus it isimpossible by. pressure to deform the digits. i

Dueto the spaced relation above described,

aeration and rapid drying of the glove is as sured. This object may be further aided by the provision. of openings I 24 in the members16,17, which openings have inturned edges-25 so as not to catch onany portion of a glove. It is believed that the metal otthe glove, form also aids in causing the glove to dry rapidly. At the third and fourth digits, where drying usually proceeds most slowly, openings-24a may be struck in the metal.

Interposed between theside members 16, lZ arej resilient means, as, for example, expansion coil springs 26. These are easily set position about the inturned edges 25. By means of these springs, in combination with the flexible or resilient quality of the side members, the entire structure .ofthe form 11 is rendered, expansible and resilient.

The thumb 15 is made of'one or more members 27 thatare spaced any suitable pins or rivets 28, 29. Along the edges of the mem bers, extend spaced flanges 30.

The said thumb 15'is made with a base that abuts in any suitable manner 'against'the element 11, for which purposethe'said base is ment. The said base may furtherbe so constructed that the thumb extends at an acute angle to the direction of the hand proper as shown in Fig. 2. The shorter edge of the thumb is outwardly curved. Thus an extension is provided in the acute angle remote from the axis of the thumb for reliably supporting the thumb. I

In practice, the thumb 15 is first inserted into the glove, and then the element 11 is laced thereinto. The latter automatically ears against the said thumb, so that it fits the glove snugly. In the arrangement shown, the thumb extends substantially at right angles from the element 1 1, but this will be subject to the particular construction of the device. As the thumb has easy sliding coaction with the elementll, the latter can be readily withdrawn from the glove, and the thumb removed subsequently.

-By this invention a single form 10 can be used for both right and left hand gloves,

-. since the thumb can be positioned'on either side of the element 11, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2.

To expand the glove form, any suitable means may be used, interposed between the members 16, 17. One form of this arrangement consists of a wedge member '32. This may be of any desired width, although it will suffice to make it of sheet metal. The wedge member includes a point 33, and a shank 34. The latter is guided for longitudinalsliding movement by pairs of projections 35, 36 extending from the members-16', 17. The point 33 coacts with depressions 37 struck inward from the members 16, 17 and between which the point engages to spread the glove form. The latter yields through the flexibility ,or

spring quality of the said' membersto become.

outwardly convexed. The maximum thickness of the glove form, as expanded by the Wedge is intermediatethe ends thereof, and at a point corresponding to the thickest portion of the human hand. When the glove is expanded, the spring 26 will not function materially, but it comes into play when the glove form is collapsed to remove the glove,

and also when the glove form is used with the smallersizes of gloves. I

To facilitate actuation of the wedge, the shank 34 extends at38 below the glove form through notches 39 in the flanges 22. At this point the shank is of a width suflicient to .fully span the space between the members 16 and 17. 1

To support the glove form the actuator part 38 has a base or pedestal 4-0 secured thereto upon which the entire device With a glove thereon may rest in uprightdrying position.

To limit the extent to which the wedge may bewi'thdrawn from the glove form, a stop 41 is struckin the shank to 'coact with a guide member 35.

2.111Fig f isshgwn a modification oi the .tion adjacent to an edge of the hand proper I To indicatethe extent to which the wedge ought; :to be moved according to thesgloves of diiferent sizes, "indicia 42 are provided at the, portion; This assures that the glove will not be stretched unduly.

invention in which the; expansibility of the elementll canbe adjusted by ,any'fsuitable means, but one form of which is shown. ,Thus

vawasher;,4c3 hasan-annul'ar rim'flange 44 to .recje vethe-mturnededge 25 at an openlng 24;. ,Extendingthroughthe washer and jourinaledfitherein at 45 is ascrew .46 having a knurled head 47 that -is countersunk The said sCrewfcoactswith a nut- 48-that is suit-.. a yto n. en of a e pa i [c i spring 49,"whosei other end; may engage fric- .tionally or otherwise, anadjacent inturne d edge 2 By Ope a i g the sc e @Qlthel -ment. :11 can ;;be expanded gor; permitte dytofigcontra-cuso that gloves; of various sizes may be Pl ted on. thesame ormev r h e saa slight tensiondue to the expansibi lity-of the p g; ay al ays eretai a w t in" Pf determined limits. This is'imp'ortant, since a leather; glove can stretch :very easily when wet, and thus become of an excessive sizeiz It will thus be seen that Ihjave'provided a ing a hand proper and four digits therewith, and a thumb wholly separate from the; hand proper, said thumb having a base portionto abut the hand proper, the said base portion '1 and a portion adj acentto an edge of the hand proper constituting a plane sliding and abut- -1 5 ment area for the base of the thumb, whereby the latter may be adjustable along the hand proper, and the thumb insertable into the, glove with a uniform sliding contact of the base thereof along the hand proper. I 2. device of the character described, including a form for gloves, said form including a hand proper and four digits therewith, and a thumb wholly separate from the hand proper and having an axis extending at uniform angle to the hand proper, said thumb having a base portion elongated in the general direction of the glove form to abut the hand proper, the said base portion and a porconstitutinga plane sliding and abutment area for the base of the thumb, whereby the latter may be adjustablealong the hand proper, and the thumb insertable into the i glovecwithj a uniform sliding contact of the 125 base thereof lengthwise the hand proper.

- 3. A device of the character described, including a form for gloves having a hand proper and four digits connected thereto, and

a separate thumb being engageable with the 130 hand proper on either side thereof, to cause the form to be engageable with both right and left hand gloves, said thumb having an axis extending at a substantially uniform acute angle to the plane of the hand proper, said thumb having a base portion elongated in the general direction of the glove form to abut the hand proper and support the thumb at the angle mentioned. v m 4. A device of the character described, including a form for gloves, said form including a hand proper and four digits therewith, and a thumb Wholly separate from the hand proper, said thumb having a base portion to 15 abut the hand proper, said thumb having an axis extending at a substantially uniform acute angle to the direction of the hand proper, said base portion including an extension in the acute angle and remote from 20 the axis of the'thumb to abut the hand proper to supportthe thumb at said angle, the said base portion and'a portion adjacent to an edge of the hand proper constituting a plane sliding and abutment area for the base of N the thumb, whereby the latter may be adjustable along the hand proper, and the thumb insertable into the glove with a uniform sliding contact of the base thereof along the handproper.

30 In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CORALLIE D. THOMA. 

